Cordyline plant named ‘Sprilecstar’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Cordyline  plant named ‘Sprilecstar’, characterized by its upright to semi-erect plant habit with foliage initially erect to outwardly arching to close to horizontal; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; freely clumping habit; long lanceolate variegated leaves with dark brown, yellow green and greyed orange to greyed yellow-colored longitudinal stripes; and excellent keeping quality and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Cordyline banksii.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SPRILECSTAR’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Cordyline plant, botanically known as Cordyline banksii and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sprilecstar’.

The new Cordyline plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of a proprietary selection of Cordyline banksii identified as code number CBV50.1, not patented. The new Cordyline plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor from within a population of plants of the parent selection in a controlled greenhouse environment in Zhejiang, China in August, 2003.

Asexual reproduction of the new Cordyline plant by micropropagated cuttings in Zhejiang, China since 2009 has shown that the unique features of this new Cordyline plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Cordyline have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sprilecstar’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sprilecstar’ as a new and distinct Cordyline plant:

-   -   1. Upright to semi-erect plant habit with foliage initially         erect to outwardly arching to close to horizontal.     -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely clumping habit.     -   4. Long lanceolate variegated leaves with dark brown, yellow         green and greyed orange to greyed yellow-colored longitudinal         stripes.     -   5. Excellent keeping quality and good garden performance.

Plants of the new Cordyline differ from plants of the parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Cordyline are not as erect as plants of the         parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Cordyline and the parent selection differ         in leaf color as plants of the parent selection have         non-variegated purple-colored leaves.

Plants of the new Cordyline can be compared to plants of the Cordyline australis ‘Purple Sensation’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Wamberal, New South Wales, Australia, plants of the new Cordyline differed primarily from plants of the ‘Purple Sensation’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Cordyline were more clumping than plants of         ‘Purple Sensation’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Cordyline and ‘Purple Sensation’         differed in color as plants of ‘Purple Sensation’ had         non-variegated purple-colored leaves.

Plants of the new Cordyline can also be compared to plants of the Cordyline banksii ‘Sprilecpink’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,213. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Wamberal, New South Wales, Australia, plants of the new Cordyline differed primarily from plants of the ‘Sprilecpink’ in leaf color as leaves of plants of ‘Sprilecpink’ had red purple, greyed purple and brown-colored longitudinal stripes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Cordyline plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Cordyline plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Sprilecstar’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a top perspective view of typical plants of ‘Sprilecstar’ grown in containers.

The photograph on the third sheet is a close-up view of the base of typical plants of ‘Sprilecstar’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the summer in 17.5-cm containers in a shadehouse in Wamberal, New South Wales, Australia and under conditions and practices which approximate those generally used in commercial Cordyline plant production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 30° C., night temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 22° C. and light levels ranged from 2,500 to 3,000 foot-candles. Plants were one year old when the photographs and the botanical description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Cordyline banksii ‘Sprilecstar’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of proprietary     selection of Cordyline banksii identified as code number CBV50.1,     not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By micropropagated cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 14 days at             temperatures of about 25° C. to 35° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 21 days at             temperatures of about 18° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About one to             two months at temperatures of about 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About two             months at temperatures of about 18° C.         -   Root description.—Medium thickness, fleshy; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to semi-erect habit with             foliage initially erect to outwardly arching; broadly             inverted triangle; non-branching habit; moderately vigorous             to vigorous growth habit; moderate to fast growth rate;             freely clumping habit typically four to five shoots will             develop within five months of planting.         -   Plant height.—About 70 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 90 cm.         -   Stem diameter.—About 2.5 cm to 3.4 cm. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Orientation.—Initially erect to outwardly arching to close             to horizontal.         -   Arrangement.—Whorled; sessile.         -   Length.—About 55 cm to 63 cm.         -   Width.—About 2.3 cm to 2.9 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Cross-sectional profile.—Towards the base, concave,             flattening slightly towards the apex.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Leathery; corrugated,             glabrous.         -   Luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Moderately glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             N200B and 199A; towards the apex, close to 146B; margins,             close to 146A; towards the base, close to 144D. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Primary color, central             longitudinal stripes, close to 200A; marginal longitudinal             stripes, close to 146A; central longitudinal stripes,             towards the apex, close to 165B to 165C and towards the             base, 160B, central stripes surrounded by close to 173A; at             the base, close to 146A. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Primary color, central longitudinal stripes, close             to N199A; marginal longitudinal stripes, close to 146A;             central longitudinal stripes, close to 173A; at the base,             close to 173A with close to 146B towards the margins.             Venation, upper and lower surfaces: Similar to surface             coloration. -   Flower description: Flower initiation and development has not been     observed on plants of the new Cordyline. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Cordyline have not been     shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Cordyline. -   Keeping quality: Excellent keeping quality; plants of the new     Cordyline are durable and will maintain good leaf substance     indefinitely. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Cordyline have been observed     to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 45° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Cordyline plant named ‘Sprilecstar’ as illustrated and described. 